Full of anticipation and excitement, on
March 16, I boarded my plane from Cleveland for an early morning flight to
Chicago and then on to Los Angeles. There I would connect with some good friends
for a pre-cruise night stay at the Sheraton LA Harbor in San Pedro, before we
boarded the Radisson Mariner the next day. As members of a travel professional
group, we would be attending a “Seminar-at-Sea” on board the luxury ship. This
was my first cruise on this ultra-deluxe cruise line and I could not wait to
experience what I had been promised would be a very special treat. A dear friend
and I have a running “argument” as to whether Crystal or Radisson is better.
Now, truth be told, he has only sailed on Radisson and I had only sailed on
Crystal. So, now I would truly be able to compare them and make a more factual
assessment. This would also be my first full transit Panama Canal cruise.
Although I had been on two previous Panama Canal cruises, they were both
round-trip cruises from Florida that made only a partial transit to Gatun Lake.
I was eager to compare the two different types of experiences.

Pre-Cruise:

Although my friends and I were all flying
from different destinations, we arrived at the Los Angeles airport within
minutes of each other. Jerry, Janet and Pat met in their terminal, secured a
private shuttle van ($72 with Super Shuttle) and proceeded to the United
terminal to gather me and my belongings. Within minutes of touching down at LAX,
we were on our way to our hotel. The 20 minute ride was pleasant and we
encountered only a small amount of highway congestion (a fortunate occurrence
when traveling in and around LA). The hotel was ideally situated within walking
distance of Port o’ Call and our room offered a view of the ships coming into
port. There was a nice pool and Jacuzzi, an adequate fitness center, nice
restaurant and lounge and even a self-service laundry. I would not hesitate to
stay there again and can recommend it as a perfect pre-cruise location. After
checking into our rooms, we ventured downstairs for a “pre-cruise toast” and
light lunch, which was quickly followed by a short rest before gearing up for
the evening. Another friend was driving up from San Diego to join us for dinner
and wish us “Bon Voyage”. Although, she frequently travels with us, prior
commitments (work!!) prevented her from accompanying us. We had a very nice meal
at the Port O’ Call Restaurant and talked until the wee hours.

The Seven Seas Mariner Docked

Embarkation:

We checked out of the hotel at 11:30 and
used the services of the complimentary hotel shuttle for the very short trip to
the ship. We left our luggage with the porter and passed immediately through
security. As we were a bit early, the check-in process had not yet begun,
requiring us to remain in the waiting area for a short while. Fortunately, it
was only a matter of about 15 minutes before the embarkation process commenced,
and just a few minutes later we boarded the ship. Interestingly, the staff that
services check-in was also the onboard entertainment staff. Providing a warm
welcome, they immediately established a connection to the passengers and created
a bond that was reinforced throughout the cruise. Although we were permitted to
board, the staterooms were not yet ready, thus we were greeted with a flute of
champagne and directed to the Pool Grill on deck 11 to enjoy lunch while we
waited. (It is here that I made a distinct comparison between my Crystal and
Radisson experience that I detail in Day 1 of my travelogue.)

Flowers Around the Ship

First Impression:

As I entered the Seven Seas Mariner I was
not overly impressed with my first glimpse of this 700 guest, 50,000 ton ship.
It was nice, but nothing struck me as spectacular or extraordinary. But, as I
roamed the ship and took a closer look, I realized that it exudes a very subtle,
understated classiness. It is the tiny details that get overlooked at first
glance that sets the Mariner apart from other ships. Small touches like fresh
flowers arranged in casual elegance and artwork selectively placed
inconspicuously throughout the ship create a very refined, yet comfortable,
appeal unique to the Radisson Mariner.

Suite 1071

My Stateroom:

Everyone in the group was assigned a
Category D suite on deck 10. Pat & I were to occupy Suite 1071, and Jerry and
Janet were our neighbors in 1073. As the Mariner was the first ship to be
designed as an all-suite, all-balcony vessel, there is no such thing as an
inferior stateroom. As I entered my suite I was impressed with both the physical
layout and the décor. A color theme of gold and rust, complemented by touches of
mint green were embellished by rich polished wood molding from floor to ceiling.
Measuring 301 square feet the suite provided ample space. The corridor into the
stateroom was flanked by a full length mirror on one side and the bathroom on
the other. And what a bathroom it was!

The Bathroom

The spacious marble appointed bathroom
was equipped with a full size deep bathtub and shower that offered excellent
water pressure. There was a full mirror across the sink with corner shelving on
each side, plus additional shelving for storage below. The shelves were stocked
with a complete complement of Aveeda toiletries that were replenished regularly.
In addition to regular size towels, plush bath sheets were provided, as were
terrycloth robes. Now that I have painted a picture of this wonderful bathroom,
I need to add a point of clarification for those of you who may be sailing on
the Mariner in the near future. My neighbors in 1073 did not have a bathtub, but
an oversized shower stall. Apparently, the Mariner is undergoing some
remodeling, and plans have already been implemented to remove all of the
bathtubs and replace them with these shower stalls. This could be either good
news or bad news depending on your personal preference.

Along the same wall as the bathroom, the
corridor begins to curve outward forming a perfect nook for a full vanity.
Mirrors encased the vanity on all three sides and I thank the designer who chose
the diffused side lighting that was set between the mirrored panes, rather than
the typical harsh overhead lighting. It made applying my make-up, a much more
pleasant task! There was also a divided drawer below the vanity for storage that
contained an excellent hair dryer with multiple heat settings. The hair dryer
plugged into its own separate outlet, leaving the two other 110-volt outlets
available for other appliances. Another bonus of this space was the perfect
placement of the mirrors of the vanity and the full length mirror on the
opposite wall. It allowed for perfect viewing to coif the back of your hair. An
inlaid wood frame provided an entranceway into the actual bedroom area of the
suite. Two very comfortable beds with down comforters and pillows could be
configured as two twins or one European king bed. The beds were high enough to
store all of our luggage underneath them. They were flanked by two small
two-drawer nightstands (a phone sits atop one of them). Two small
nightlights/reading lights were on the wall above the beds. Along the sidewall
of the bedroom next to the vanity was a walk-in closet providing all the storage
one would need for longer voyages and extended itineraries. There were a total
of three clothes racks, one full length for longer garments and two half-racks
for shorter garments. Ample hangers were provided. The closet also provided a
shoe rack, a built-in six drawer dresser with three open shelves above it and an
additional shelf along the ceiling for extra storage. A small safe occupied one
of the open shelves. Another inlaid wood frame separated the bedroom from the
living space. This frame, however, was equipped with a full length drape that
could enclose the bedroom in total darkness while leaving the living area and
balcony open to lighting. The living area had a full size couch, comfortable
matching accent chair, glass-top convertible cocktail/dining table and very
attractive entertainment center/desk area. There were two matching glass
enclosed double shelves, separated by one long open shelf. Fine glassware and a
silver champagne bucket were provided, as well as your choice of 2 complimentary
bottles of liquor for your in-room bar. Below one of the glass shelves was a
large TV (not interactive) that offered limited selections. It included 3 movie
channels that changed daily and ran continuously, CNN, a satellite sports
channel, a shore excursion channel, a view from the bridge and one that provided
the evening menu selections for each dining room. Below the TV there was a VCR
and 4 more nice size drawers. The desk area was located in the middle, below the
long open shelf. It was equipped with a desk drawer, comfortable desk chair,
another telephone and one outlet. (By the way, the telephone does have
voicemail.) Below the other glass shelving unit were additional desk/table space
and the mini-fridge. It was stocked with beer, water and soft drinks. Water and
soft drinks were always complimentary and restocked daily. The first 4 beers
were complimentary, but there was a charge if you wished to have those replaced.
(I am not a beer drinker, however, so I do not know the restocking price.) Fresh
flowers and fruit were also stateroom amenities. There was ample lighting
throughout the cabin. The workstation/entertainment center had separate
lighting; there was soft overhead lights in the living area, two wall lamps
above the sofa, and full cabin overhead lighting, in addition to the other
lights I have already mentioned. The balcony was not large, but had room for 2
cushioned chairs that reclined and a table.

The Balcony

The balconies have open railings,
but interestingly, we had a small child occupying a cabin a few doors down from
us and a plexi-glass partition had been attached to their railing for safety.
This is just one of the many examples that I was to discover during my voyage of
the special accommodations Radisson makes for the comfort of their guests.

The Seven Seas Mariner Bow

The Ship:

The eight decks on the Mariner devoted to
passenger space were designed to provide the highest space to guest ratios of
any ship afloat (71.4) and was accomplished quite successfully. I invite you to
join me on a tour of the ship beginning with Deck 12, the highest point of the
Seven Seas Mariner. Located all the way forward, impressive views of the passing
scenery was the focal point of The Observation Lounge. Comfortable seating was
arranged to allow for limitless views from every vantage point in a tranquil
environment.

The Observation Lounge

The Observation Lounge also served as the
perfect spot to enjoy a continental breakfast or midday tea, and throughout the
cruise a pianist and harpist took turns entertaining us at various times. This
was obviously a very popular spot during our canal transit. Moving aft, there
was a full circuit jogging track mid-ship (11 laps equaled 1 mile).

The Shuffleboard Court

The rear of Deck 12 was devoted to sports
venues including a golf net, shuffleboard and paddle tennis court.

Paddle Tennis Court

Taking the stairs behind the paddle tennis
court leads to the outdoor dining area of La Veranda.

The La Veranda Outside Dining Area

The La Veranda Buffet

This restaurant provided a breakfast and
lunch buffet during the day and was turned into a bistro/steakhouse in the
evening.

The Pool Grill

Exiting La Veranda, a paddle tennis table
was located on the starboard side and an excellent Pool Grill was port side.

The Pool Grill Dining Area and Pool Deck

The Pool Grill was definitely more than
the typical poolside dining venue, but I will save the details for the Dining
Section of this review. Moving forward, a Pool Bar and a wonderful alfresco
dining area of teak tables with blue umbrellas opened to the pool deck.

The Pool

The saltwater pool and 3 Jacuzzi’s took
center stage, but the real treat was the thick cushioned lounge chairs
encircling the pool. Not only were they extremely comfortable, but this was one
area that attested to the impressive guest to space ratio. A table and SPACE
between each chair was a welcomed deviation from the mainstream cruise scenario.
The remaining portion of Deck 11 was allocated to 2 Grand Suites (987 sq. ft.)
and a number of Penthouse Suites (449 sq. ft.).

The Passenger's Laundry Room

Decks 10, 9 and 8 were completely
relegated to passenger suites, with the exception of a self-service laundry room
on each deck. Washers, dryers and ironing facilities were provided at no cost,
and even complimentary laundry detergent was supplied.

The Casino

The remaining passenger suites were
located on the rear half of Deck 7. Continuing forward along the corridor there
was a small, but adequate, Casino port side.

The Casino Slot Machines

The Casino was actually divided
into two areas, one housing the table games and the other all of the slot
machines.

The Mariner Boutiques

Opposite the Casino along the same corridor were the boutiques.
Although somewhat limited, Tommy Bahama sportswear was featured and proved to be
quite popular with a number of our group members. Mid-ship, the Photo Shop
occupied the area around the Atrium. Forward, the remaining portion of Deck 7
was devoted to fitness and beauty.

The Entrance to the Carita of Paris Spa

Occupying the starboard side, a Carita of
Paris Spa & Sauna provided the ultimate in pampering. It offered both a dry
sauna and steam bath, as well as an array of beauty and body treatments. I have
included the Spa Menu in this review, however, whether it was hairstyling or a
manicure, facial treatment or body massage the staff was there to indulge your
needs.

The Fitness Center

Adjacent to the Spa, was the Fitness Center. The Fitness Center was
divided into two rooms, one housing a range of exercise equipment and the other
devoted to floor exercises and fitness classes. Although there was a variety of
standard machines (treadmills, recumbent bikes, elliptical, stair climbing,
universal weight machine and free weights), the area is not very large and on
this cruise often became quite crowded. A very full schedule of aerobics,
stretching, body toning, circuit, fitball and Pilates classes were provided
throughout the cruise by Jacquie, an excellent fitness instructor. Here is a
list of the various classes
that were available on the cruise.Again,
although she was a great instructor, the space was somewhat limited and much too
small to accommodate the number of participants. I am not sure if this was
unique to our cruise, or whether it is an ongoing situation, but it definitely
affected the quality of the workout.

The Constellation Theater

Moving down to Deck 6 from the fitness
area, was the upper level of the Constellation Theater. This two-tiered theater
was the main entertainment venue for the various production shows and guest
performances that were provided for our enjoyment nightly. A single performance
was scheduled nightly at 9:45, but was never crowded and there was always ample
seating available (even if you arrived at the last minute). Seating was
comfortable, aisles were wide and tables were strategically placed between rows.
For most performances we sat near the front of the theater, but it appeared that
sight lines and acoustics were excellent from any seat.

The Atrium

Moving aft to the
Atrium, a small shop sat in the starboard corner. Although it was identified as
the souvenir shop, it primarily sold jewelry.

The Garden Promenade

Continuing aft along the single
starboard corridor, aptly named the Garden Promenade, was Stars Nightclub.

Stars Nightclub

This
was the disco and actually became quite lively many evenings during the cruise
(particularly on karaoke nights).

The Circular Stairs Leading to the Casino

Circular stairs in the center of the room led
to the Casino directly above and provided an added dimension to the visual
appeal of the space. We are now beginning to venture into the area that I found
to be the most visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing area of the ship.
Continuing along the Garden Promenade, the space opens to include a row of
attractive chairs and tables arranged along the windows on the starboard side.
Some were designed for reading, some for quiet board games and yet others were
utilized as the “puzzle corner”. A very impressive library was on the port side.
A cappuccino/latte machine, tea sandwiches and cookies were available in a small
corner, while rather large number of shelves offered substantial reading
material, a generous quantity of videos (for personal use in-suite) and a few
multi-media computers.

Club.com

This was also the location of Club.com,
the Internet café. There were 14 computer stations available, but this was one
of the most disappointing aspects of the Mariner. While other Radisson ships
offer package pricing making Internet access reasonable, this was not the case
on the Mariner. The only option was a standard, $.75 per minute charge. In and
of itself, this might not have been bad, but the service was extremely slow and
highly unreliable. It was not unusual to accrue charges of $8.00 or more, just
attempting to get to your mailbox and then still not being able to access your
mail. For many, adding to the frustration was a less than sympathetic or helpful
staff making for very disgruntled passengers.

The Library

Tucked behind the library was the
Conference Center and Card Room.

The Conference Center

A movable partition separated these two
facilities, allowing them to be utilized as two separate venues or combined into
one larger space, should the need arise.

The Card Room

Still continuing our trek aft along the
Garden Promenade passed the small selection of art that was on display for
purchase was the Connoisseur Club.

Promenade Art

This very attractive room, which was
actually an enclosed annex to the Horizon Lounge, appeared to be the “cigar
bar”, but never once during the cruise did I see this space occupied.

The Connoisseur Club

All the way aft, the Horizon Lounge
provided a great place to watch the sunset, enjoy afternoon tea, or spend the
evening dancing.

The Horizon Lounge

Two dance hosts were usually in attendance
for any ladies who were in need of a dance partner.

Signatures Place Setting

Adjacent to the Horizon Lounge and
opposite the Card Room, was Signatures, a very intimate restaurant offering “Le
Cordon Bleu” cuisine.

Signatures Restaurant

This elegant dining venue was quite
popular and reservations were required.

Compass Rose Restaurant Entrance

Exiting the restaurant and traversing the
stairs, we have descended to Deck 5 aft, the lowest of the passenger decks. This
was the rear entrance to the Compass Rose Restaurant, the traditional main
dining venue. Staff was available at both the rear and main entrances to greet
and seat guests in this refined and tastefully appointed setting.

The Compass Rose Restaurant

Tables were arranged to accommodate
parties of two to ten. Moving forward to the main entrance, the small conclave
was shared by Latitudes, a reservations-only intimate hideaway featuring an
interesting cuisine in a unique style. Here are
two samples menus from
Lattitudes.

Lattitudes

Continuing forward was the Mariner Lounge,
where the piano player typically entertained for our pre-dinner pleasure.

Mariner Lounge

This led to the main floor of the
unassuming, 8-deck Atrium.

The Reception Area

Arranged around the Atrium was the Tour
Office, Cruise Sales Office, Reception Area and Concierge Desk. The main level
of the Constellation Theater occupied the remaining forward section of Deck 5.

The Doctor’s office was located on Deck 4,
forward. Two banks of elevators serviced the passengers. A glass enclosed set of
three were located in the Atrium section and a set of two elevators were located
in the aft area. Be aware that if you choose to use the aft elevators and exit
on Deck 5, you must go through the Compass Rose restaurant to reach the other
areas of the ship.

Dining Options:

The freedom of open seating at all meals,
elegant settings, tantalizing menus, and exquisite presentation combine to make
dining onboard the Mariner a gourmet experience. Unfortunately, I became quite
ill midway through the cruise (NO it was not the noro-virus or anything like
that) and did not derive the same pleasure I usually enjoy from long leisure
meals while cruising. But, truth be told, if I had to be sick on any ship, I am
glad it was on one that provided phenomenal room service. And while on the
subject of room service, let’s look at that option first. A rather extensive
room service menu, including snacks, soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches,
main courses and desserts was available 24 hours. During dinner hours any item
on the menu in Compass Rose was also available for room service (even
complimentary wine). A full breakfast menu was also served from 6:30AM to10AM
(see menu included). Since I did use this option more than I have on any other
cruise, I can honestly say service, presentation and quality of food were all
excellent.

Signatures

Signatures was open for dinner only
(6:30PM – 9PM) and required reservations. It had a set menu that remained the
same nightly and changed only once midday through the cruise. Signatures offered
superb fare prepared by Le Cordon-Bleu trained chefs in elegant fashion with
service to match. Classically French, with culinary twists, I have included both
a la carte menus (menu #1
and menu #2) that were offered on our cruise, but can highly recommend the
fillet of beef. Now, I am not a very adventurous diner and my tastes are rather
basic, but this was truly a dining experience not to be missed on a Mariner
cruise.

Latitudes was the smallest and most
intimate of the restaurants onboard. It was similar to Signatures in that it
required reservations, open only for dinner and had a set menu that changed only
once through the cruise. However, it offered a truly distinctive dining
experience that proved to be the favorite of many in our group (Not me, but then
I am not a fan of Asian fusion cuisine.) However,
the Asian inspired menu was
served in a unique fashion that I found to be quite appealing. All three of the
appetizers, soups and desserts were served to everyone in small sampler portions
allowing guests the opportunity a taste of each. Selecting between the two main
courses was the only choice that each guest made for themselves. For someone
like me, this was a perfect way to expand my taste repertoire. This was
definitely another “not to be missed” dining venue.

La Veranda Restaurant

LaVeranda served a breakfast (7:30AM –
10AM) and lunch (12 – 2PM) buffet each day. Seating was available on the outside
terrace or inside the air-conditioned restaurant. At breakfast the basic buffet
choices remained the same throughout the entire cruise (breakfast pastries,
fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, cereals, French toast,
etc.) but eggs cooked to order or actually anything else that a guest wanted was
prepared on request. The luncheon buffet was varied, but jumbo shrimp, baked
fish, fresh vegetables and marvelous salads were offered daily. In the evening
the port side of the restaurant was transformed into an informal Mediterranean
bistro or Italian steakhouse (rotated on a nightly basis) serving diners from
7-9 PM on a first come-first served basis. Appetizers and desserts were chosen
from a buffet but the rest of the meal was ordered through your server. I
sampled the fare at the Mediterranean bistro, but never did manage to test the
Italian steakhouse menu. Although we did try, due to its popularity on this
cruise we were never able to be seated. (I strongly suggest you plan to arrive
before 8PM if you wish to dine there.)

Compass Rose, the largest of the
restaurants, was the traditional dining venue on the Mariner. Breakfast was
served from 8AM – 9:30AM, lunch from 12 – 1:30PM and dinner from 6:30PM – 9PM
daily. Dinner menus changed nightly and offered a wide variety of choices.
Different standard, vegetarian and low-salt menus were provided and a filet
mignon, strip steak, chicken breast and fish prepared to order could always be
requested. Actually, my friends and I preferred this restaurant because it
always offered a choice that appealed to our combined eclectic tastes. Lunch,
however, was a disappointment. The menu offered little variety and service
(according to a consensus of those in the group) was somewhat inconsistent.

The Pool Grill offered a continental
breakfast from 6:30AM – 9:30AM and began serving hot dogs, burgers, fries, etc
from 11AM – 4PM. By the way, the burgers were cooked to order (yes, you can get
a burger on the rare side) as well as being thick and juicy. Excellent!! Pizza
and fruit plates were also available. However, the Pool Grill was often the
scene of some rather extensive and unique poolside luncheon buffets. On this
cruise a Mexican BBQ, Fish Al Fresco, Mongolian Wok, Asian Delight and American
BBQ were just some of the featured luncheon delights.

If these options were not enough a
continental breakfast was also served in the Observation Lounge from 6:30AM –
11AM and an afternoon tea was served from 4PM – 5PM in both the Horizon and
Observation Lounges. There was no “midnight buffet”, but it was certainly not
missed! Both a white and red wine chosen to complement the menu selections for
that evening were served complimentary in each of the dining venues at dinner.
You could always request your favorite wine if the evening’s selection was not
to your liking. FYI: Although it is not publicly announced, you can also order
complimentary cocktails during dinner.

Staff and Service:

The Seven Seas Voyager Staff on Stage

For the most part, I found the staff on
the Mariner to be more than accommodating. Guests were treated with a friendly
respect and special requests were patiently and promptly serviced. The stateroom
attendants were particularly attentive to guests needs. I found it particularly
pleasant to not be subjected to the invasive noise generated by the early
morning cleaning schedule of staterooms so typical of mainstream cruise lines.
Room service, (here is a copy of the
room service menu)as I have already mentioned, was exceptional. Most staff members
greeted me with a warm greeting and a smile, and even a number that greeted me
by name. A few even anticipated my requests based on past preferences. However,
there were some unsolicitous and less than friendly staff members in pockets of
the ship that influenced the group’s overall assessment. For the most part they
were minor infractions, that appeared to stem from a lack of attention to detail
rather than attitude and were the exception rather than the norm, but
nonetheless it did negatively impact the overall experience.

Entertainment:

For a ship this size they offered a wide
variety of entertainment to appeal to broad range of tastes and interests.
Musical genres from classical to modern rock were showcased in different venues
each day. From harpist and pianist, to vocal duo and DJ the entertainment staff
did their best to keep us entertained. The Peter Terhune Singers and Dancers
were not the most polished and seasoned troupe of performers at sea. But, they
exuded a youth, vitality and effervescence that was infectious and appealing.
Although they were not a full blown orchestra, The Mariner Five quite
competently handled the role of ship band accompanying the guest performers and
providing background music at social functions. And speaking of guest
performers, there were outstanding offerings (the impressionist and Holly Lipton
in particular) and those that were received with less enthusiasm, but there is
no question that there was definitely substantial variety.

Day 1, Thursday (Los Angeles):

The Port of Los Angeles

We had boarded at noon and our staterooms
were not yet ready, so we were directed to the Pool Grill on deck 11 to enjoy
lunch while we waited. Since I boarded the ship with intentions of comparing
this cruise to my Crystal, I was a bit disappointed with our initial greeting.
On Crystal we were escorted to the dining room where we were presented with a
full course luncheon menu while champagne flowed freely awaiting access to our
staterooms. In all fairness, Radisson cruise documents stated a 2:30 PM boarding
time; therefore they were not under no obligation to accommodate our early
arrival. It just fell short of my preconception. Unfortunately, the fact that we
were unable to get into our suites until 3 PM did nothing to enhance my initial
impression. However, the Radisson Mariner redeemed itself immeasurably by
conducting one of the most efficient and well conducted emergency lifeboat
drills I have encountered. When we were able to occupy our staterooms, our
luggage had already been delivered. So, after the lifeboat drill, Pat and I
returned to the suite to begin unpacking. We had planned to join the Bon Voyage
get together on the pool deck; but the view from our balcony was so inviting, we
decided to have our own private SailAway.

Leaving Los Angeles Harbor

Earlier my friends and I had connected
with two other members of the travel professionals group that we had cruised
with in the past and were able to secure reservations at 8 PM for the 6 of us to
enjoy our first dinner on board at Signatures. And what a fantastic meal it was!
Ravioli stuffed with escargots, a very tender filet of beef, crème brulee for
dessert and French wine. Now, this was the way to start a cruise! After dinner
we went next door to the Horizon lounge for trivia and dancing at an energetic
St. Patrick’s Day celebration. (By the way, this made my roommate very happy
since she would have been sorely disappointed if the ship had not planned any
St. Patrick Day activity.) While there, we met a number of the entertainment
staff. In fact, it was the entertainment staff that had checked us in when we boarded.
The young lady who had taken care of us remembered us and greeted us by name.
Each of the performers in this young troupe was quite personable and exuded an
enigmatic charm as they interacted with guests throughout the cruise. Ah, there
is definitely something to be said for a small ship experience. By now, the
evening was waning and we were all getting weary, so we retired for the evening.

Day 2, Friday (San Diego - Docked):

Port of San Diego (Taken From the Ship)

Since my body clock was still on EST, I
was ready to begin my day by 6:30 AM. When we arrived in port on schedule at 8
AM it was cloudy and looked like rain, but by the 9 AM the sun began to peak
through. My 3 traveling companions live in California and my “cruise buddy” who
had met us in LA pre-cruise is from San Diego, therefore this was not a new
destination for any of us. Since we already familiar with the area from other
trips Janet, Jerry, Pat and I left the ship about 10:30 enroute to the Hotel Del
Coronado. Janet and Pat had both made arrangements to meet members of their
families for lunch. We had planned to take the ferry to Coronado, but by the
time we dawdled our way to the ferry terminal we had just missed the 11 AM
ferry.

Hotel Del Coronado

Rather than waiting around until noon for the next ferry, we grabbed a
taxi ($17.50 + tip).

The Hotel Del Coronado Grounds

We managed to have a leisure lunch and still squeeze in a
little time for some shopping before returning to the ship for our 5 PM
departure. We joined a few members of the travel group, before our group’s
scheduled cocktail party at 6:30 in the Horizon Lounge. Captain Jean-Marie Guillou and some of the other officers stopped by the cocktail party which was a
very nice gesture and well appreciated. After the cocktail party, I joined
others from our group for dinner at La Veranda to sample the Mediterranean
Bistro. Appetizers and desserts were served buffet style, while the rest of the
meal was ordered from the menu. Wine flowed freely as we engaged in lively
conversation. At dinner’s end, some of group went to the Constellation Theater
for the evening’s main entertainment, comedian Fred Klett. Since my body had not
yet adjusted to the 3 hour time difference, I chose to retire for the evening.
According to my traveling companions, I did not miss much as consensus of
opinion rated his performance as marginal.

San Diego Port Suggestions: For
those of you who have not been to San Diego before, here are some recommended
activities and excursions you might find of interest.

•The Trolley Tour offered as a
ship’s excursion was excellent and provided a great overview of the city for
first timers.

•Horton Plaza is within walking
distance (the ship also provided complimentary shuttle service) and is a great
shopping complex.

•“The Midway” is at the port
and well worth exploring if you find such vessels of interest.

•Old Town and Presidio Park are
“must-do’s” if you have never visited San Diego.

•The San Diego Zoo is one of
the best in the country.

•Take the ferry to Coronado or
make a trek to La Jolla – both are fabulous destinations and provide a different
view of the area. If you are a beach person and looking for one of those
spectacular San Diego beaches, then make a point of visiting either of these
spots.

Day 3, Saturday (At Sea):

The Captain's Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party

I woke early, but began the morning a bit
disappointed since the weather was definitely not promising. It was cold, cloudy
and very windy. Sine a power walk on deck was not an option, I chose to visit
the fitness center. It was very crowded and I was unable to locate an available
treadmill. Fortunately, however, I had arrived just in time for the morning
stretch class. I had just enough time to grab a latté before returning to my
cabin to freshen up for the fist of our scheduled seminars. There was an
excellent synergy that evolved during the seminar and we left the meeting
charged with a task that I found quite intriguing. Since the weather had
continued to deteriorate, we chose to participate in the wine and cheese paring
seminar. After the wine tasting, I decided to take advantage of the inclement
weather to begin collecting some of the interior photos of the ship for the
review, followed by a relaxing lunch at La Veranda. Knowing there would be many
sun-filled days ahead, I returned to the cabin to work. I was pleasantly
surprised to discover the sun had finally decided to make an appearance.
Protected from the wind, I was able to work while gathering the first of the
sun’s rays on my balcony. Ah, life was looking good! This was the first of the
two formal nights scheduled for our 14 day cruise. The Captain’s Welcome
Reception was held on decks 5 and 6 of the Atrium. We mingled with the staff,
enjoying cocktails and conversation, while the Mariner Five played for our
listening pleasure. Following the festivities, we decided to dine at Compass
Rose. I thoroughly enjoyed my small lobster tail poached in butter as I became
better acquainted with some of the members of our travel group. This evening’s
entertainment was the first of the production shows performed by the Peter
Terhune Singers and Dancers. Having actually met a number of the performers, I
was looking forward to seeing them display their talents. “Beyond Imagination”
was interesting and different than many of the production shows I have seen of

late. While I truly enjoyed “Beyond
Imagination”, it was not without its flaws. The production was a bit disjointed
as it appeared to have no real theme and there were some uneven transitions.
There were also some mismatches between vocalist and song choice, but, on the
other hand, there were also some very exceptional solo performances. Overall, I
found the show to be quite pleasant. While some of the group left the theater in
search of more late night activity, I chose to retire. It appeared that many
passengers had a similar mindset to mine, as late night activity was at a
minimum (or so my friends thought – but more about that later).

(I was to
discover later that due to unexpected personal matters and serious injuries to a
few of the key performers in the ensemble, other members of the group were
called upon as last minute replacements during our cruise. This would certainly
explain the unevenness and mismatches I mentioned. I applaud the performers who
did their best under extenuating circumstances.)

Day 4, Sunday (Cabo San Lucas – Tender
Port):

Absolutely glorious day! Not a cloud in
the sky and the promise of perfect weather. This morning I was able to enjoy a
vigorous power walk and light breakfast before preparing for my day in Cabo. The
Mariner arrived a bit ahead of its 9 AM scheduled arrival. I love Cabo and was
looking forward to engaging in my favorite Cabo activity, a visit to Medano
Beach. As Internet access on board was such a disappointment (both for cost and
accessibility), locating an Internet café was a primary goal. So, a few of us
arranged to secure the first of the tender tickets to be disseminated. Once we
disembarked we remembered it was Palm Sunday, so many things were closed
(including most of the internet cafés). Thus we changed our itinerary and
decided to walk to the beach and look for internet access on our return to the
ship. (By the way, it is very easy to secure a water taxi at the pier to take
you directly to the beach.)

Arriving at Medano Beach

This turned out to be a wise move, as we had arrived
early enough at Billigan’s on Medano Beach to acquire 4 chaises and an umbrella
in a prime beach location. We settled in for a day of relaxing in the sun,
enjoying lunch at “The Office”, and sipping liquid refreshment at the “All Day
Happy-Hour”. This is absolutely a great party spot, so early in the afternoon
the spring break crowd began filtering in and by mid-afternoon the beach was a
sea of young college students ready to indulge in the standard “spring break
party rituals”.

Medano Afternoon

By the time we left at 3:30, I am not sure
how any more bodies would fit on this small stretch of sand. Joanie and I did
manage to find an internet café as we walked through town and back to the tender
pier, before boarding the last tender. I don’t know about you, but a day at the
beach can really tire me out. So, the ordeal of dressing for dinner, and then
sitting through a full course meal was just more than I wanted to deal with at
this point. One of the pleasures of a Radisson cruise is that I had an
alternative. I wandered down to the library, selected a “chick flick” video,
returned to my cabin, ordered room service from the very extensive room service
menu and settled in for the night. Dining in your stateroom is truly one of the
luxuries of a Radisson cruise; simply delightful! Your coffee table is converted
into a dining table adorned with a white linen tablecloth and fine china place
setting. I would suggest everyone opt for this alternative at least once on a
Radisson cruise.

Cabo San Lucas Port Suggestions:
Since many of you might prefer to do something other than spend the day at the
beach, here are some alternative suggestions.

•If your ship is in port early
(and long enough), schedule a fishing trip. This is one of the best ports for
this sport.

•Rent an ATV and do some
exploring.

•Horseback riding is also very
popular.

•Kayak to Lover’s Beach (if the
water is not too rough). An alternative is to just hire a water taxi.

•Renting a car was not
recommended as it tends to be expensive and rentals are not conveniently located
at the pier.

Day 5, Monday (At Sea):

Another marvelous weather day was forecast
and I was not disappointed. I awoke with sun basking my balcony and knew that
another stellar day was ahead. By 9:00 AM I was already at the pool area staking
my claim to a perfectly located lounge chair. I was able to complete a 2 ½ mile
power walk (11 laps = 1 mile) before “vegging” in the sun for the rest of the
day. Members of our travel group came and went during the day, leaving
periodically to participate in other scheduled activities around the ship. Two
members of our group were fortunate enough to have signed up for the Cordon Bleu
cooking class that was being conducted by a Master Chef others went to bridge
lessons, cooking demonstrations, or one of the enrichment lectures. By late
afternoon, the sun had tired me out and I chose to take a short nap in
preparation for a full evening. We had dinner reservations at Latitudes for 8:00
PM. Many from our travel group met at the Horizon Lounge for cocktails and
dancing before dinner, then went our separate ways for dinner, before
reconnecting later that evening. The meal at Latitudes was great. Its unique
presentation style was definitely a major part of its appeal, not to mention the
excellent selections that were offered. The evening entertainment was songstress
Holly Lipton. Her performance was excellent. Each of the headline acts was
scheduled for two shows during the cruise, and we were all definitely looking
forward to her second performance. Well, after bailing early the last few
nights, I had promised to join my fellow partiers for some late night activity.
Thus, we headed off to Stars disco for karaoke and dancing. Now, karaoke is not
normally “my thing”, but I must admit that on this particular night, even I was
coerced into performing with “the girls”. After our “stellar performances”,
karaoke led to disco dancing and it turned into a very late night for most of
us. It was all good, however, as everyone had a great time. (Oh! By the way, I
had mentioned that my friends were complaining that there was not much activity
on board the ship at night. Well, apparently they had missed the disco in their
quest, as we met a group of guests that had been there every night.)

Day 6, Tuesday (Acapulco):

Port of Acapulco

Joanie and I had made plans to meet early
that morning to disembark the ship together. As this was not the first time
either of us had been to Acapulco, we had no plans other than to locate an
Internet café, and then head to the beach. (Am I beginning to sound like a
broken record?) Fortunately, there was an Internet café in the terminal at
reasonable rates ($3 for ½ hour). Then, it was off to the beach. We walked the
short distance to the beach and were lucky enough to locate a couple of lounge
chairs to rent for the day. This was not an easy task, as most of the rentals
were for umbrellas and straight back chairs. By the time we had settled in for
the day, the beach was becoming crowded. Since this was Holy Week, the residents
of Mexico City flock to Acapulco in droves for vacation. Now, I forgot to
mention that I was beginning to come down with some sort of cold (or so I
thought) for when I woke this morning, my throat was quite scratchy and I had
lost my voice. (Now I know what you are thinking, but NO, it was not due to my
late night revelry the night before.)

The Beach at Acapulco

So after lounging a while on the beach, I
took a break to find a pharmacy to purchase some cold and throat medicine. Well,
if I thought the beach was becoming crowded, that was nothing compared to the
scene on the roads. Traffic was horrendous and there appeared to be gridlock in
every direction. I was quite glad we had chosen to forego any sightseeing and
had chosen to walk to the beach. By the time I returned, it had become very hot
and humid. We attempted to cool off in the water, but, surprisingly, the water
was quite chilly. It wasn’t long before we were both uncomfortable, not to
mention getting hungry. Rather than try to find a restaurant in town and fight
the sea of people, we decided just to return to the ship and finish our day at
the pool area on board. When I returned, Joanie and I decided to return to the
ship for lunch and finish our day at the pool on board. Well, with the ship in
port there was not a hint of a breeze on the pool deck, so our afternoon plan
was foiled a bit. I decided to take advantage of the empty ship to take pictures
for this review, while Joanie retired to her cabin to do some work. My roommate,
Pat, had ventured off with other friends but returned shortly after me. Some
from our group had gone to see the cliff divers (a must do in Acapulco for first
timers), others went to the central market and yet others participated in one
the ship’s shore excursions. Once again we met at Horizons for pre-dinner
cocktails and dined at Compass Rose. The evening entertainment was Fred Klett
(the comedian) and so many from our group had been disappointed in his first
performance; we opted to pass on that evening activity. Pat, Janet and Jerry
decided to venture to the Observation Lounge to listen to the piano playing of
Mr. Jordan Heppner and found it quite pleasant (there were only about 5 other
people in the lounge, however). My throat condition was worsening and it’s not
much fun conversing with no voice (anyone who knows me can appreciate that the
inability to talk would be quite frustrating for me), so I chose to retire early
again.

Acapulco Port Suggestions: I have
already mentioned some of the excursions that you might want to consider, but
here is a compilation of suggestions from the group.

•One of the most popular
tourist attractions is the Acapulco Cliff Divers. It is easy to grab a taxi from
the pier and catch one of the afternoon or evening shows.

•The San Diego Fort is directly
across from the cruise terminal and makes for an interesting tour.

•The ship sponsored Cross and
Fort Tour was good and very interesting. The highlight is the view of Acapulco
from the summit of Las Brisas.

•If you are a shopper and have
honed up on your bartering skills, then the Central Market is a great place to
get all your typical Mexican crafts and souvenirs.

•Papagyo Park is a nice
municipal park within walking distance of the pier, but if you are expecting to
do some shopping all the vendor’s stalls are no longer there.

Day 7, Wednesday (Huatulco):

The Port of Huatulco

I awoke still not feeling well, but my
voice seemed to be coming back, so I was anticipating a rapid recovery. I was
able to do an abbreviated power walk (my energy level was still down) before
enjoying a light breakfast in La Veranda. This was my first visit to Huatulco
and I was thoroughly impressed!! What was once a sleepy fishing community until
it was discovered by developers in the 1960’s remains quietly charming.

The Seven Seas Mariner in Huatulco

Although
this area is beginning to emerge as a popular resort destination, its secluded
beaches and idyllic setting provide a relaxed environment much different from
other major resort areas in Mexico. It was very quiet (particularly after our
last two ports) and extremely clean.